Unitary vacuum tube structure



Rlkrch 17, 1936.

UNITARY VACUUM TUBE STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 10, 1932 FIG. I

Ewen Z 01; eager/7 Wis Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE UNITARY VACUUM TUBE STRUCTURE Application September 10, 1932,Serial No. 632,569

4 Claims.

This invention relates to vacuum tubes and has for its principal objectto provide a means to mount the elements in a vacuum tube whereby theyform a single unit which is easily supported upon the press.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary structure forvacuum tube elements in which the elements may be spaced in very closeproximity with each other without any danger of touching.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means to support afilament in a vacuum tube in such a manner that it cannot touch theadjacent element.

1 Other objects of the invention and objects relating particularly tomethods of manufacturing and assembling the various parts will beapparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

One embodiment of this invention has been illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of avacuum tube according to my invention;

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are upper perspective views .of the parts of thevacuum tube of Fig. 1 in exploded form; and

Fig. 6 is a lower perspective view of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

The drawing shows a vacuum tube I0, comprising two triode units, II andII, each comprising a filamentary cathode, I2 or I2, a control gridstructure, I3 or I3, and an anode, I4 or I4.

These triode units are mounted on upper and lower insulating disks, I5.and I6 respectively and all of the above mentioned elements aresupported by support rods I! and II on stem I8.

Support rods I1 and I I are provided with lead wires I9 and I9 whichprovide external terminals for anodes I4 and I4 respectively.

Support wires 2|) and 26' serve to connect the grid structures I3 and I3to their respective external leads 2| and 2|. Support wires 22 and 22serve to position the triode structures along the rods I1 and I1, and toconnect filaments I2 and I2 to the external energizing leads 23 and 23'.

In the structure shown the filaments I2 and I2 are connected in parallelto leads 23 and 23, but a series connection could be used if desired.

Filaments I2 and I2 are shown as inverted V-shaped elements which aresupported by hooks 24 and 24' respectively which hooks are mounted onposts 25 and 25'. Posts 25 and 25' may be mounted on the upperinsulating disk I5 in any suitable manner. In this instance the postsare provided with heads 25 and 26', and are inserted in apertures 21 and21' in disk I5. Flanged collars 28 and 28 are then secured to the posts5 closely adjacent the surface of disk I5.

Filaments I2 and I2 pass through apertures. 29, 30, 29' and 35 in lowerdisk I6, adjacent the points at which they are connected to supportwires 22 and 22.

The grid structure I3 or I3 for each triode is a dual structurecomprising inner winding 3| or 3| and outer winding 32 or 32. In thedrawing the lower portion of winding 3| is shown cut away from its siderods 33' and 34' and the upper portion of outer winding 32' is shown cutaway from. its side rods 35' and 36', for purposes of clarity. Howeverin the complete vacuum tube, the windings 3| and 32 are coextensivebetween the disks I5 and I5. The purpose of the dual'grid structure isto enable a high amplification constant to be obtained in a simplestructure, while avoiding high cathode-grid current when either grid ispositive with respect to its cathode.

The grid side rods, 33, 34', 35 and 35 are inserted-in apertures 31 and38' in disk I6 as shown in the drawing, and also in apertures 39' and40' in disk I5. Apertures 31 and 40 may be provided with webs 4| and 42'as shown, to laterally position the two grids 3| and 32.

Each anode or plate, I4 or I4 is provided with lower ears 43 and 44 or43 and 44, and with upper ears 45 and 45 or 45 and 46. The lower ears 43and 44 are adapted to be inserted and clinched in apertures 41 and 48 inlower disk I6, and the upper ears 45' and 46 in apertures 49 and 50',provided for that purpose.

The lower disk I6 is provided with split eyelets 5I and 5|, mounted inapertures 52 and 52', which, when assembled, surround support rods I!and II and are secured thereto.

In preparing for assembly, the stem, with its six support wires isprovided, and the support wires 20 and 20' are cut and bent as shown inFig, 5. Support wires 22 and 22 are cut, and bent, as shown, so thattheir upper surfaces are parallel to the lower disk I6 in assembledposition.

Eyelets 5| and 5| are mounted in disk I6. Eyelets 53 and 53 are mountedin apertures 54 and 54' in upper disk I5. Posts 25 and 25 are mounted ondisk I5 in the manner described above.

Filaments I2 and I2 are inserted through 55 apertures 29, 30, 29' and30. Grids 3|, 32, 3| and 32' are then mounted on disk I6 in apertures31, 38, 31 and 38'. Plates I4 and I4 are then mounted on disk I6 byinserting ears 43, 44, 43 and 44' in apertures 41, 48, 41' and 48' andclinching them therein.

Disk I5 is then applied, and the upper plate cars 45, 46, 45' and 46bent over to secure the disk. The assembly of the filament, grid andplate elements; with the insulating disks may then be slipped over thesupport rods I1 and I1.

Filaments I2 and I2 are then welded to support wires 22 and 22. The unitstructure is then forced down until the disk I6 contacts with thehorizontal portion of support wires 22 and 22'.

The upstanding portions of eyelets 5|, 5|, 53 and 53 are then clamped orwelded to the support rods I1 and I1. Grid connecting wires 20 and 20are then connected to grids I3 and I3. Plate connecting wires 55 and 55are then welded to connect plate car 43 to rod I1 and plate ear 43' torod II.

Hooks 24 and 24 are passed within their respective filaments I2 and I2and secured to the posts 25 and 25.

. Stem I8 carrying the above described structure is then sealed in bulb56, and is ready to be exhausted and mounted in base 51.

As the plates and grids are assembled in fixed relation to each otherbefore the unit is mounted on the stem, the unit. may be inspected andgauged from either end with convenience. My device is furtherdistinguished from those of the prior art in that the relation betweenthe grids and plates is not disturbed when the unit is mounted on thestem and secured thereto. Particularly, the positions of the plates arenot disturbed when the electrical connections are made, as no rigidelements are attached thereto. As all the elements are secured togetherin the absence of the support rods, there is little tendency towardsrelative movement between the elements as a result of mechanical shock.

This tube is particularly adapted to class B amplification as the gridsdraw a minimum of current, and are less apt to interfere in the electronstream than in the conventional triode. As substantially no energy isbeing dissipated by one triode unit while the other is operating, astructure of the type described is adapted to provide much more outputpower than two triodes in a. single bulb, operating as class Aamplifiers, and dissipating energy continuously from both elements. 7

While one embodiment of my invention has been described, many otherforms are useful,-

and the scope of my invention is limited only by the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. A vacuum tube comprising a bulb enclosing a pair of triode amplifyingunits, each of said units comprising a cathode, a signal control gridstructure, and an anode, said grid structures being electricallyindependent of each other and said anodes being electrically independentof each other, said grid structures each comprising a plurality ofco-axial, coextensive flattened helical windings.

2. A vacuum tube comprising a bulb enclosing two triode units, each ofsaid units comprising a cathode, a signal control grid structure, and ananode, said signal control grid structures being electricallyindependent of each other and said anodes being electrically independentof each other, said grid structures each comprising a plurality ofcoextensive foraminous members.

3. An amplifier tube for class B amplification comprising a pair ofamplifying units in a common envelope, each of said units including ananode, a signal control grid, each grid comprising coaxial elements atleast as long as said anodes and adapted to dissipate a substantialamount of heat;

4. A vacuum tube for class B amplification comprising a bulb enclosing aset of electrodes, said set including an electron emitting cathode, ananode and a unitary signal control grid structure positioned betweensaid cathode and anode, said control grid structure consisting of aplurality of coaxial coextensive foraminous members.

ROGER M. WISE.

